Rotary engine.



H. A. REGEN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1912.

1,059,637. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: 4

fl 3 VIII INVENTOR.

H. A. RECEN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 10, 1912.

1,059,637, Patented Apr; 22, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

m m J m /3, 25

WITNESSES.-

H. A. RBGEN.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1912.

' Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

-W1TNESSES:

INVENTOR. if a .Recem A T T ORNE Y.

TTED S as ea rrron.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 10, 1912.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913. Serial No. 689,851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. REOEN, citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in R0- taryEngines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rotary engines of the type in which the motiveforce is derived from the action of steam or other motive fluid admittedbetween a piston on the rotor and a relatively stationary abutment whichperiodically moves into the path thereof.

In the ordinary construction of engines of this type either the pistonor the abutment reciprocates to enable the one to pass the other duringthe rotary movement of the element of which the piston forms part, andit is the principal object. of the present invention to provide anengine of very simple construction in which all the moving parts rotatein the performance of their respective functions.

An embodiment of my invention has been shown in the accompanyingdrawings in the various views of which like parts are s1mi- I larlydesignated and in which,

taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1, Fig. 3, an end-elevation of theengine, Fig. 4:, a horizontal section taken along the line H, Fig. i

8, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 sections similar to that shown in Fig. 2,illustrating different positions of the operative parts of the engine.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, my improved engine consistsof a housing 2, the cylindrical body portion 3 of which is supportedupon an integral base at. The interior of the body portion is by meansof a concentric wall 5, divided into an annular piston-chamber 6 and asteam-chamber 7 which by means of a conduit 8 secured in the end-wall ofthe housing, connects with a source of motive fluid. The housing 2 isfurthermore provided with an annular abutment chamber 9 in which anarcuate abutment 10, hereinafter to be more fully described, has arotary movement.

The abutment chamber 9 Whose diameter is less than that of the pistonchamber, is

placed in intersecting relation to the latter whereby it is divided intotwo arcuate sections, one of which extends through an internalenlargement 12 of thedividing wall 5, while the other extends throughthe engine-base 4.

A valve-chamber formed in the interior enlargement of the dividing wall,in communication with thesteam-chamber 7, is designed to be occupied bya rotary valve 13, the stem 14 of which projects through a combinedstuffing-box and bearing 15 which forms part of a screw-plug 16 by whichthe open end of the valve-chamber is normally closed.

The valve 13 is composed of a hollow cylinder, the interior of which isin continuous communication with the steam-chamber by an opening in itsend, and it is provided with a longitudinal slot 17 through which thesteam is periodically admitted into a port 18 which by means of achannel 19 ton-chamber 6.

The port 20 is located at the lower portion of the piston chamberintermediate the entrances to the upper section of the abutment chamber,in a line passing through the centers of the two annular chambers, and aFigure 1 represents a vertical section through the engine, in the planeof the axis of rotation of its rotor, Fig. 2, a section a port 21located in the same line at the upper portion of the piston chamberserves toexhaust the spent motive fluid therefrom into a conduit 22. w

The rotor of the engine is composed of a disk 23 fixedly secured uponthe engine shaft 24 which'is rotatably supported in an axial bore of theenlargement 12 of the dividing wall 5 and in bearings 25 and 26 formedintegral wit-l1 the end-wall of the housing and with a head 27 whichnormally closes the opposite, open end of the same.

The disk 23 is movably disposed between the end-wall 28 of thesteam-chest defined by the circular wall 5 and the inner surface of thehead 27, and it carries a piston 29 which, projecting laterally from itsperipheral portion, is movably fitted between the circular inner andouter walls of the annular piston chamber 6.

The rotary abutment 10 which is fitted to move within theabutment-chamber 9, projects laterally from a disk 30 which beingmovably disposed in a recess at the end of the housing opposite to thatclosed by the head 27, is by means of an integral shaft 32 rotatablysupported in a bearing 31 on a plate 32 which normally closes the recessin which the disk has its movement.

The corresponding ends of the valve stem 1% and the two shafts 2st and32 are connected to move in unison at equal rates of speed by means of atrain of gearw'heels 33, best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and afly-wheel 34 is mounted on the opposite end of the rotor-shaft for theusual purpose.

The end-faces 35 of the piston 29 curve divergently from its inner facewhich contacts with the inner wall of the chamber 6 to its outer facewhich engages the opposite wall of the same, and when the parts are intheir dead center, as shown in Fig. 2, the piston extending centrally inalinement with the centers of the two annular chambers, closes with itsinner face, the port 20 and with its outer face the entrances to thelower section of the abutment chamber, while its curved end surfaces areengaged by the ends of the abutment 10.

The valve 13 is at the same time in the position in which itslongitudinal slot 17 registers with the orifice 18 of the channel 19 sothat when the rotor is moved in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 2,the motive fluid contained in the steam chest 7, will be'admitted intothe space 36 between the abutment and the rear end-face of the piston assoon as the latter uncovers the port 20, and by its expansive force,drive the piston onward.

The abutment 10 moving in unison with the piston 20 in the direction ofthe arrow 0, will remain in contact therewith until the end of thepiston rearmost with relation to its direction of rotation has passedthe adjacent entrance to the lower section of the abutment chamber, whenthe abutment entering the same will partition the pistonchamber at thatpoint, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings;

The valve 13 which likewise moves in unison with the rotor in thedirection of the arrow (Z will cover the port 18 only after the piston29 has moved through an arc of approximately ninety degrees, when it isdriven further onward by expansion of the body of motive fluid confinedbetween its end surface and the abutment, until it passes the exhaustport 21 through which the motive fluid escapes from the piston chamber.

During the subsequent downward motion of the piston, the rotor isimpelled by its own momentum and that of the fly-wheel 3 1, until thepiston again passes the port 20 when a fresh supply of motive fluid isadmitted in the space 36 and the above described operation is repeated.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the parts are shown in the position theyoccupy at the moment steam is admitted into the space between the pistonand the. abutment, Fig.

6 shows the parts when the steam-supply is shut off by the valve and therotor is imcharge the steam at an earlier or later period in the rotarymovement of the piston, and that the efficiency of the engine may beincreased by providing two pistons at diametrically opposite points onthe rotor, in which case the gearing is changed to cause the abutment tomake two complete revolutions while the piston makes one, and the valveis provided with two slots 17.

It will furthermore be observed that by reversing the exhaust and intakeopenings, the engine may be employed to operate as a pump for raising orcirculating water or other fluid.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters- Patent is:

1. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular piston-chamberand, in intersection therewith, an annular abutment-chamber, a rotorhaving a piston movably fitted between the circular walls of said pistonchamber, the end faces of said piston diverging from the inner one'ofsaid walls to the other, and a segmental cylindrical abutment movable insaid abutment-chamher and adapted to partition said piston chamber, thesaid end faces of the piston and the said abutment being formed andproportioned so that the longitudinal edges of the latter will move inengagement with the respective end surfaces of the piston while thelatter passes the point of intersection of the two chambers.

2. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular piston chamberdefined by its circumferential wall and a therewith concentric centralportion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annular abutmentchamber, said central portion having a valve seat in communication withthe piston chamber, a rotor having a piston movable in the pistonchamber, a rotary abut ment in the abutment chamber adapted toperiodically partition the piston chamber, and a rotary valve in saidseat.

3. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular piston chamberdefined by its circumferential wall and a therewith concentric centralportion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annular abutmentchamber, said central 'portion having a steam chest and a valve seat incommunication with said chest and with the said pis ton chamber, a rotorhaving a piston movable inv the piston chamber, a rotary abutment in theabutment chamber adapted to periodically partition the-piston chamber,and a rotary valve in said seat.

4:. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular pistonchamber defined by its circumferential wall and a therewith concentriccentral portion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annularabutment chamber, said central portion having a valve seat incommunication with the piston chamber, a rotor having a piston movablein the piston chamber, a rotary abutment in the abutment chamber adaptedto periodically partition the piston chamber, a rotary valve in saidseat, and means for rotating said rotor, said abut-ment and said valvein unison.

5. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular piston chamberdefined by its circumferential wall and a therewith concentric centralportion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annularabutmentchamber, said central portion having a valve seat incommunication with the piston chamber, a rotor having a piston movablein the piston chamber, a rotary abutment in the abutment chamber adaptedto periodically partition the piston chamber, a rotary valve in saidseat, and means for rotating said rotor, said abutment and said valve inunison at equal rates of speed.

6. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular piston chamberdefined by its circumferential Wall and a therewith concentric centralportion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annular abutmentchamber, said central portion having a valve seat in communication witha port in the piston chamber disposed intermediate of the point, ofintersection of the abutment chamber therewith, a rotor having a pistonmovable in the piston chamber, a rotary abutment in the abutment chamberadapted to periodically partition the piston chamber, and a rotary valvein said seat.

7. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular pistonchamber, and in intersection therewith, an annular abutment chamber, arotor having a piston movable in the piston chamber, and a rotaryabutment in the abutment chamber adapted to periodically partition thepiston chamber, the latter having an admission port in the space betweenthe points of intersection of the abutment chamber therewith, and an eX-haust opening outside said space.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

8. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular piston chamberdefined by its circumferential Wall and a therewith concentric centralportion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annular abutmentchamber, a head closing an end of said housing in spaced relation tosaid central portion, a rotor comprising a disk rotatably fitted betweensaid head and said central portion, and a laterally projecting pistonmovably fitted in said piston chamber, and a rotary abutment fitted insaid abutment chamber and adapted to periodically partition the pistonchamber.

9. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular piston chamberdefined by its circumferential wall and a therewith concentric centralportion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annular abutmentchamber which opens in an end-sun face of the said housing, a headclosing the open end of said abutment chamber in spaced relation to thesaid end surface, a disk rotatably fitted between said head and saidsurface and having a laterally extending segmental abutment fitted insaid abutment chamber, a rotor having a piston movable in the pistonchamber, and means for causing said rotor and said piston to rotate inunison.

10. A rotary engine comprising a housing having an annular pistonchamber defined by its circumferential wall, and a therewith concentriccentral portion, and in intersection with said chamber, an annularabutment chamber which opens in an end surface of said housing, a headclosing the opposite end of said housing in spaced relation to saidcentral port-ion, a rotor comprising a disk rotatably fitted betweensaid head and said central portion and a laterally projecting pistonmovably fitted in said piston chamber, a head closing the open end ofsaid abutment chamber in spaced relation to the said end surface, a diskrotatably fitted between the last mentioned head and the said endsurface and having a laterally extending segmental abutment fitted insaid abutment chamber, and means for causing said rotor and said disk torotate in unison.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY ALBIN RECEN.

Witnesses:

G. J RoLLANnnT, L. Ri-IoAnEs.

Washington, I). C.

